Electric-line-apparatus protector.



P. K. HIGGINS.

Bmacmc LINE APPARATUS momc'roe. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 22, 1903.REIJEWBD JULY 22, 1913.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

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zep/f Wmfi p v I fi o/v1 c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER K. HIGGINS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR IO FREDERICK R.PARKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-LINE-APPARATUS PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

Application filed October 22, 1903, Serial No. 178,140. Renewed July 22,1913. Serial No. 7'c0,571.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER K. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and Stateof California, have invented a new and useful Electric-Line.

' would be injurious-to the telephone or other line or to the apparatusconnected therewith, or to the users of such apparatus, and sometimes toall of theseand the principal object thereof is to provide a simple andeflicient device for that purpose. Other objects will be apparent fromthe following specification. I accomplish this purpose by the protectordescribed herein, the preferred form of which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of theprotector, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal crosssectional view of theprotector, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Like characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

In the drawings A is the insulating base of my protector to which aresecured the metallic springs B, the upper ends of which are adapted tostand normally in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. To thebase .of these springs are secured the line wires C and D. These springssupport the body of the protector. The metallic end pieces-E havegrooves E therein for the reception of the side Wings B'of the springs,the central sections B of the upper portions of the springs passing onthe outside of -.th e metallic ends as shown. These metallic end piecesare preferably providedwith studs E which project into sockets F in thegraphite core F and are held in such' rod and may be termed the thermalrod. I t is surrounded by a dielectric of celluloid, or other suitablematerial, which provides a suitable air space spark gap between the saidcore and the tube H of conducting material, preferably of carbon, whichsurrounds the sald, core. The celluloid dielectric will'not burn uponthe passage of an electric spark through the said air-space orspark-gap,

while inclosed by the thermal rod and tube H, because the air is kepttherefrom.

When, ho'wever,.a continued arc is formed in the said airspace orspark-gap, the celluloid dielectric will become softened from the heatof the arc and will then permit the spring J to press the tube H intocontact with the thermal rod, thus stopping the arc and the consequentheating. The dielectric is preferably perforated as shown in Fig. 2, soas to break up or scatter a heavy discharge. Itwill be readily seen thatthe tube His of noninfiammable material, and that it protects theinflammable dielectric from burning under various conditions. The tube Hof carbon is insulated from the metallic ends by washers I of anysuitable insulating material, preferably mica. Secured to the base isthe contact spring J the free end of which engages the carbon tube whenthe body of the protector is in place in the springs. This contact.spring is connected by Wire K with L ,or other suitable capacity.Secured to the base and normally out of electrical contact with the wireC is contact M which is connected by wires N and K to ground L or' othersuitable capacity. After the body of the protector is formed as beforestated the free ends E of the springs B arepressed toward each other andthe grooyeliiaends are slipped over the wings B, thereby holding thebody of the protector securely in place and completing the circuitthrough the line'wires. This protector preferably designed to be placedat the terengaged by another line carrying acurrent of high volta e,thiscurrent would are through the dielectric and pass to'ground throughthe contact spring J and'wire K. Lightning would pass to groundin thesame manner. However, if the arc continues sufiiciently to soften thedielectric, the spring J will then press the conductor H into contactwiththe thermal rod or core of the protector and thus stop the arc andat the same time carry the injurious current. off to ground.

By this construction a simple and eflicient L protector is sion areused.

rovided for a tele hone or; other system m which currents 0 lowtenlectrie member of celluloid interposed be- I do no wish to limit thisinvention to all of the exact details herein set forth, as; manyjunodifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope ofthe appended claims. I also wish it to be understood that I may use thevarious features of this. invention collectively or separately from eachother, as, for'instance, the features of the high-potential electricityarrester without the features of the sneak-cur.- rent rotector ofelectrothermal device, and the f ature of the non-inflammable casing forthe protector without the features of the high-potential electricityarrester.

The sneak-current protector or heat-cartridge herein set forth forms thesubject matter of a divisional application of the present application,which divisional application was file'd on December 15, 1913, underSerial No. 806,826.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is '1.- In a protector for electric circuits,hav-' ing' a thermal corecontaining fusible material therein; an envelopof carbon surrounding said thermal core and separated therea so from bya dielectric. 2. The combination with an electrothermal protector havinga thermal core and separate thermally releasable retaining means undercontrol thereof, of an envelop of conducting material surrounding thesaid core and separated from the body thereof by a thin dielectricmember to provide a highpotential electricity arrester.

3. The combination with an electrothermal protector having a resistanceheater and separate thermally-releasable retaining means under controlthereof, of a conductor surrounding the heater and closely associatedwith the body thereof to provide a high-potential electricity arrester.

.-4. A high-potential electricity arrester having a dielectric member ofcelluloid provided with many small perforations therethrough to scatterthe discharge through the arrester.

5. In a high-potential electricity arrester having electrodes of solidmaterial, a dielectric member of heat-susceptible material withprovisions for permitting the discharge of electricity through air,mterposed between the said electrodes wherebythe latter are permitted tocome together upon the softenin ofthe dielectric member.

6. A 'gh-potential electricity arrester having a dielectric ofheat-softenable insulatin material between the electrodes, provide withmany small openings there through to scatter the discharge through thearrester.

7. In a high-potential electricity arrester having electrodes of solidmaterial, a dietween the electrodes and having provisions for permittingthe discharge of electricity through air, the said dielectric whensoftened by excessive heating permitting the electrodes to come togetherto form a conductive path through the arrester.

8. In a high-potential electricity arrester having electrodes, aheat-softenable dielectric interposed between the electrodes and havingprovisions for permitting the discharge of electricity therea'crossthrough air, the said dielectric when softened by excessive heatingpermitting the electrodes to make conductive connection with each otherto form a conductive path through the arrester.

9. In a high-potential electricity arrester having electrodes of solidmaterial, a heatsoftena-ble dielectric between the electrodes, the saiddielectric when softened b excessive heating permitting the electro esto make conductive connection with eachpther to form a conductive paththrough the arrester. v

10. A highotential electricity arrester' ,discharge through thearrester.

12. A dielectric member for a high-potential electricityarresterycomprising a piece of celluloid having provisions for permit-In witness that I claim the foregoing I ting the discharge ofelectricity thereacross have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th 10through air. day of October, 1903, a

13. A dielectric for a high-potential elecv 5 tricity arrester,comprising heat-softenable PETER HIGGINS insulating material havingprovisions for Witnesses: permitting the discharge of electricity there-G. E. 'HARPHAM, across through air. MARGARET O. NICKELESON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. 0.

it is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,110,259, grantedSeptember 8, 1914, upon the application of Peter K. Higgins, of LosAngeles, California, for an improvement in Electric-Line-ApparatusProtectors, errors appear in the printed specification requiringcorrection as follows: Page 1, line 58, after the words air space insertthe word '01-; same page, line 92, after the word ends strike out thereference letter E; same page, line 94, after the word ends insert thereference letter E; page 2, line 2, after the word cause insert theWords at least one of; same page, line 38, for the word of read 01'; andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with these correctionstherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of November, A. D., 1914.

[SEAL] V R) F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Corrections inLetters Patent No. 1,1 10,259

